Overview
Combining original film footage from the First World War with photographs, artworks and first-person testimony from soldiers who embarked to war from Folkestone, Walking with Ghosts was presented as a durational, 84-hour artwork. This corresponded to the length of time Fabian Ware, founder of the Imperial War Graves Commission, estimated it would take 'a ghostly army of the dead of the Imperial forces to march past the Cenotaph in rows of four'.
The commission also included an original immersive soundscape by composer Thom Robson and a ‘ghostly army’, a digital recreation of the soldiers from Ware's quote. During the First World War, the Harbour Arms station was given over to use for transporting troops and supporting freight. Since the First World War, the port at Folkestone has also been a key arrival point for refugees arriving from Europe.
Image Gallery
Communities and Places
Walking with Ghosts was developed in collaboration with the local community, including schools. Folkestone Nepalese Community played a central role in the development of the artwork. Multi-generational workshops were held to collect oral histories and two sections of Walking with Ghosts used this testimony. Oral histories with newly settled refugees in Folkestone were also used in the work. Voice actors for the installation included Folkestone-based Jessica Hynes, local and emerging talent, and Ukrainian and Nepalese actors.
The weekend included a range of free events, from poetry and ropemaking workshops, to walks and storytelling.
Watch Film
A short documentary about Walking with Ghosts.
Find Out More
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Professor Helen Brooks, Creative Producer, discusses this commission.
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Take a virtual tour of Walking with Ghosts